PS Audio DAC Pre Vs Bryston BP17_3

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Bartmanblues

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Hello, My Bryston 1B died after 30+ years so Im looking to replace it. Thinking of the PS Audio Stellar gain cell DAC or the Bryston BP 17_3 as well the Parasound P6. does anyone have these preamps? and can you give some insight? Im on a budget so the Bryston will be stretching it monies wise. Thank you in advance.

My system consists of Bryston 4B SST_2, Schiit Mani, Clear Audio Performance DC, PMC Twenty Five 23 speakers, and a NAD CD player.

George
 
I don't have direct experience with the PS Audio Stellar Gain Cell, but one of my clients had one. I am familiar with the Bryston BP-17^3 and Parasound P6 though. If you want to stick with what you already know, you should get the Bryston. The other choices will sound different enough that I would recommend trying to find a way to hear them first.
 
The Bryston served you well. I tend to agree with Mike, if you can figure a way to afford it I would stick with Bryston.
 
I have owned the bp17cubed... reviews are great but that was not my experience. How sensitive are you to the noise floor of your system?
 
dznutz said:
I have owned the bp17cubed... reviews are great but that was not my experience. How sensitive are you to the noise floor of your system?
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Thanks for your response. As far as with my 1B matched with my 4B SST_2 the noise floor was whisper quiet. Are you saying the BP17_3 was not? being newer technology thought the BP 17 would be very quiet. What where your findings? what did you replace it with eventually? was the BP 17_3 mated with Bryston power amp? your insight would be appreciated.

thanks in advance. George
 
You live in the home of Bryston there are surely sufficient dealers in the GTA that you can find someone to let you try one for yourself.
 
Jack said:
You live in the home of Bryston there are surely sufficient dealers in the GTA that you can find someone to let you try one for yourself.
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Yes I have two stores quite close to me that carry Bryston. But none of them are willing for me to take one home for the weekend to audition. No serious listening in the store but what I heard was fine. Mind you I have a square and not a cube both stores had _3 amps.
 
Pain in the ass as it might be it seems the only answer is to carry your amp in and listen if they will let you. Otherwise look for one used on CAM and sell it if you don't like it.
 
Bartmanblues said:
Thanks for your response. As far as with my 1B matched with my 4B SST_2 the noise floor was whisper quiet. Are you saying the BP17_3 was not? being newer technology thought the BP 17 would be very quiet. What where your findings? what did you replace it with eventually? was the BP 17_3 mated with Bryston power amp? your insight would be appreciated.

thanks in advance. George
Click to expand...

That is what I am saying. With the preamp in the chain my noise floor jumped 4x... what was even more surprising is that the noise being generated in the right speaker was different than the noise in the left speaker. I swapped to another XLR output as 2 sets are available with similar results. Surprisingly using RCA inputs was a slight bit quieter... but I dont use RCAs. Again, audition to see if it bothers you.
 
Do either of the stores have a return policy? Also, have you tried contacting the company. Since you live right near them maybe Bryston could "arrange" for an in home trial, especially since you have been a long term customer.
 
Randy Myers said:
Do either of the stores have a return policy? Also, have you tried contacting the company. Since you live right near them maybe Bryston could "arrange" for an in home trial, especially since you have been a long term customer.
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I know Bryston is a made per order company but I can always ask the question. One of the stores I deal with would probably take back the unit if I am not happy with it. I will ask as well.
 
dznutz said:
That is what I am saying. With the preamp in the chain my noise floor jumped 4x... what was even more surprising is that the noise being generated in the right speaker was different than the noise in the left speaker. I swapped to another XLR output as 2 sets are available with similar results. Surprisingly using RCA inputs was a slight bit quieter... but I dont use RCAs. Again, audition to see if it bothers you.
Click to expand...

Ok will do. 4X that is really high I have heard stories that the mute button makes a popping sound sometimes but this noise floor issue is something I have not heard yet and is concerning to me. I will go listen to one today.
 
The noise floor on the BP-17^3 is audible with most speakers if you are somewhat close to the speakers. There's a fair chance one may have never noticed it in a typical room sitting 6+ feet away. I have not noticed a difference in noise floor between the left and right channels. The noise floor does not increase in level until you're past ~4 o'clock on the volume dial, which is already super, super loud and it only increases a small amount. I'm usually 11 o'clock or less on the volume. The sound quality significantly makes up for the noise floor in my opinion.

Stereophile remarks on the noise floor in their measurements of the BP-17 Cubed in case you're curious about how it measures.

The "popping sound" on mute is a non-issue in my opinion—it's a soft blip from the woofers that is lower in volume than the actual button click and internal relay noise, and not a function of the volume level when you mute.
 
Make no mistake... I test any new component in my rig thoroughly to judge how well engineered and silent it is. That includes me putting my ear right to the tweeter with the system simply powered on. The BP17-3 has been the noisiest pre-amp I have ever had in my system. take that as you will. If you already have 4 times the noise of another system then imagine what that noise is doing when you are listening to a track at 80db... it certainly isnt helping.

Any popping is completely unacceptable to me. This is why I gave up on their amps as well. To this day I feel their BDA3 DAC is the best product they offer.
 
I’m a big fan of the Bryston folks, but I do wish the cube amps sounded a little more like the square amps. My 28SST2 were insanely good.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
 
I agree with you regarding the noise level of the BP-17^3 and wanted to provide a reference point for how audible it is. I was also surprised at the noise floor when I first received it. With speakers that are more sensitive than normal it could be a problem, particularly in a quiet room.
 
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